A survey of the teaching of partial denture construction in dental schools in the United Kingdom

The teaching of removable partial dentures in Ireland and the United Kingdom

“…18,19 There was less divergence in the amounts and content of teaching between dental schools in the previous similar survey reported in 1979. 11 It should be noted however that this evidence of variation between schools is not unique to the teaching of removable partial dentures, and has been noted in other areas in contemporary restorative dentistry, such as the teaching of posterior composite restorations. 17,20 Another finding from this survey is that while the preclinical course in removable partial dentures was directed by a senior clinical academic either alone or in collaboration with a dental technician in ten schools, this course was directed solely by a dental technician in one of the responding schools.…”

“…The reasons for the persistence of the problem of inadequate design and fabrication of removable partial dentures were 'traditionally' ascribed to either fi nancial 1,2,[8][9][10] or educational factors, 1,2,9,11 with the former being used as a criticism of the NHS fee structure. In 2006, the authors published the fi rst study which sought to investigate the role of fi nancial and educational factors on the design process for cobalt-chromium removable partial dentures.…”

“…12 Having concluded that many trainees had not received teaching/training in the comprehensive management of the partially dentate adult, we decided to turn our attention to the teaching of remov able partial dentures to dental undergraduates. The last study of this kind was published in 1979, 11 which found that there was much agreement between dental schools when teaching removable partial dentures, but principles of removable par tial dentures taught in dental school diverged from that in independent practice.…”

Current trends in removable partial denture teaching in British dental schools

“…Secondly, it has been demonstrated that new graduates undergoing vocational training are not well equipped to design removable partial dentures with cobaltchromium frameworks and this has been attributed to inadequate undergraduate teaching. 5 Thirdly there are considerable and well documented disadvantages of dentures such as those made entirely of acrylic resin because the vast majority are tissue borne and tend to cover much more of the gingival margins, thereby endangering the periodontal tissue, supporting alveolar bone and the abutment tooth structure because of the potential to cause greater plaque accumulation in an already susceptible patient. 6 However, given that nearly all graduates will at some point work in the National Health Service, certainly during their Foundation Training year, and in their early practising years when they will make a number of acrylic resin based removable partial dentures, it is important that they are taught to make them as well as possible.…”

Why do dentists struggle with removable partial denture design? An assessment of financial and educational issues

“…It is unclear whether this problem of poor prescription and fabrication of CCRPDs is primarily related to educational 5,12,15,18 or financial matters, 5,14,15,19 or both. There have been changes in the educational pathways of general dental practitioners in recent times with the introduction of specific educational guidelines for dental education, 20 Vocational Dental training, and Continuing Professional Development requirements.…”